Coin operated lock

ABSTRACT

In a coin-operated lock unit of the type including a control or custodian key controlled lock and a coin-operated patron key lock, wherein the control lock is adapted to removably secure the unit to a cabinet in position adjacent a door thereof, and the patron lock is adapted to effect locking of the cabinet door, the improvement including control means operated externally of the lock unit for selectively converting the patron lock from coin operated to free status. The control means may include as an integral part thereof means to selectively release the patron key operated lock cylinder from the lock unit to facilitate replacement thereof without the necessity of removing the lock unit from the cabinet. A further improvement includes novel means interconnecting a lock operation counter with a coin release mechanism via the patron lock, so as to accurately record each paid actuating cycle of the patron lock.

I United States Patent Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee COINOPERATED LOCK 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 194/92 Int. Cl. G071 5/00 Field of Search 194/17, l8, I9, 32,40, Sl, 59, 65, 67, 69, 70, 74, 78, 83, 84,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1966 Smith ct al PrimaryExaminerSamuel F. Coleman AttorneyBean Bean ABSTRACT: In a coin-operatedlock unit of the type including a control or custodian key controlledlock and a coinoperated patron key lock, wherein the control lock isadapted to removably secure the unit to a cabinet in position adjacent adoor thereof, and the patron lock is adapted to effect locking of thecabinet door, the improvement including control means operatedexternally of the lock unit for selectively converting the patron lockfrom coin operated to free status. The control means may include as anintegral part thereof means to selectively release the patron keyoperated lock cylinder from the lock unit to facilitate replacementthereof without the necessity of removing the lock unit from thecabinet.

A further improvement includes novel means interconnecting a lockoperation counter with a coin release mechanism via the patron look, soas to accurately record each paid actuating cycle of the patron lock.

PATENIED AUG] H97! 3,599,770

sum 2 UF 4 10:: m '00 III: 700% IS 92 84 94 I N VENT 0R5 WELLSEsme/amass DOUGLAS A. BARTH BY A TTOPNEYS PATENTEUAusmsn 3.599770 sum u0F 4 INVENTORS WE F. .STflCKHOUSF DOUGL/IS H. BART 4 ATTORNEYS COINOPERATED LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relatesto coin controlled locks. More particularly, it relates to improvementsin coin controlled locks of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,228,506, wherein a lock unit including a control or custodian operatedlock and a coin-operated patron lock, is removably secured to a cabinetby operation of the custodian lock and the cabinet door locked in closedposition by operation of the patron lock.

In locks of the type disclosed in above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No.3,228,506, provision is made to selectively permit free operation of thepatron lock and allow for replacement of the patron key operated lockcylinder should it become defective or the patron key become lost ordamaged.

A decided drawback of such prior lock units is that it is necessary toremove the lock unit from the cabinet in order to afford a custodianaccess to the interior of the unit to permit changeover between coinoperated and free status, and/or replacement of the patron lock keycylinder. Also, even when in free status, such units require that apatron insert a properly sized coin into the lock in order to permit itsoperation; the coin being thereafter returned to the patron.

Further, in lock units of the type under consideration it is common toemploy a counter with a view to maintaining an accurate record of thenumber of occasions on which the cabinet was in use and thus the amountof money collected. The counter is conventionally connected to a patronkey operated barrel, such that each time the barrel is rotated intocabinet door locking position the counter is stepped. How ever, sincethe mechanism which releases the deposited coin to the coin collectionbox is not permitted to operate until the patron key is removed from thekey cylinder, it was possible for a patron before withdrawing his keyfrom its cylinder to rotate the barrel more than the one required timeand thus produce an inaccurate tally of the total number of times thecabinet was in paid use.

SUMMARY The present invention is directed towards an improvement inlocks of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,506, wherein acontrol bar supported within the lock unit is positionally adjusted bythe control or patron lock, so as to selectively convert the patron lockfrom coin-operated to free status without the necessity of removing thelock unit from a cabinet.

Preferably, there is formed as an integral part of the control bar asecuring device, which permits the patron key operated lock cylinder tobe replaced without the necessity of removing the lock unit from thecabinet.

The novel lock construction of the present invention also includes theprovision of a cam element on the patron key barrel in combination witha cam follower associated with the coin release mechanism, wherebypermitting a coin to be released to a coin collection box each time thepatron key barrel is rotated into full locking position. Thisarrangement permits a counter, which is operably connected to the patronkey barrel to be operated only when a coin is released to the collectionbox and thus to produce an accurate tally of the total number of times acabinet has been in paid use.

DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described in detail in thefollowing description taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

.FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a bank of checkinglockers embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lock embodying the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the lock shown in FIG. 2, partlybroken away and showing the lock in unlocked position;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the lock shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the control or custodianlock rotated to set the lock for paid use status; FIG. 6 is a viewsimilar to FIG. 4 but showing the control or custodian lock rotated toset the lock for a free use status;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a furtherembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG.8, showing the relationship of parts when the patron key barrel has beenrotated in locking condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Now referring particularly to FIG. I, 10 indicatesa bank of coin-controlled checking cabinets and 12 indicates a doorclosure of one of the cabinets on which is fixed a handgripping block orflange 13 adapted to facilitate opening and closing of the door.

A locking unit 14, which is employed to lock door 12 in closed position,includes a face or front plate 15 through which extends a control orcustodian lock 16, a patron lock 17, and a patron lock release rod 18.Faceplate 15 is also apertured to define a coin insertion slot 20 and acoin return slot 21. Faceplate 15 may also be provided with an opening,not

shown, through which may be viewed the numeral wheels of a counter 22,shown only in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The various elements forming lock unit 14 may be mounted on faceplate15, so as to permit the lock unit to be removably secured within anopening, not shown, provided in a marginal portion of the cabinetadjacent door 12. Lock unit 14 is secured by cooperation of faceplatebottom lip 24 and lip 25, which is carried by barrel 27 of control lock17. Barrel 27 may be rotated by means of a removable custodiancontrolled key 29, so as to move lip 25 between the full line positions,designated as 250 and 25b in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively. When key 29 isremoved, lip 25 is disposed in its securing position, shown in full linein FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 8. The lock unit may be removed from the cabinetwhen the lip is in position 25a.

By referring to FIG. 2, it will be understood that a verticallyextending coin guide 32 of generally U-shaped section is suitablyaffixed to the rear surface of face plate 15, such as to be disposed incommunication with slots 20, 21 adjacent the upper and lower endsthereof, respectively. The lower end of coin guide 32 is open andnormally disposed in communication with a coin collection box, notshown. Also carried on the rear face of front plate 15 is a bracket 34,which serves to slidably support a locking bolt 35 for reciprocationbetween an unlocked position, shown in FIG. 2, and an extended position,not shown, in which it is disposed in association with door 12.

In prior art lock constructions of the type disclosed in above mentionedU.S. Pat. No. 3,228,506, locks were made convertible between coinoperated or pay and free status by means of a bar 36, which waspivotally mounted adjacent the lower end of coin guide 32. When bar 36was pivoted into an upstanding position, return slot 21 was closed andthe bottom of guide 32 disposed in open communication with the coincollection box, whereas when bar 36 was pivoted into a lowered position,it served to divert a coin passing downwardly through the coin guidethrough slot 21 in order to return same to a patron. Since custodiancontrol of the positioning of bar 36 was necessary in order to preventfraudulent use of the checking cabinets, a suitable mechanism, notshown, for releasing bar 36 was positioned within the body of lock unit14, thereby requiring the entire lock unit to be removed from thecabinet by the use of the custodians key before the unit could bechanged to a free status.

In FIG. 7, patron lock 17, is shown as including a cylindrical housing37, which is nonmovably carried by face plate 15; a barrel 38, which isrotatably supported by housing 37; and a lock cylinder 39, which isrotatably supported by housing 37; so as to permit rotation thereof onlyunder the control of patron's key 40. The inwardly extending end portion41 of lock cylinder 39, which is adapted to project rearwardly throughhousing 37, is provided with a nonround, as for instance squaresectioned, portion 43 which is removably received within a likeconfigured aperture in barrel 38 in order to permit the cylinder andbarrel to be drivingly interconnected. End portion 41 also includes acylindrical end portion 44, which cooperates with portion 43 to definean annularly extending slot recess 45. It will be understood that priorlock arrangements conventionally employed a spIit-ring-type fastener,not shown, which was removably seated within slot recess 45 for thepurpose of retaining lock cylinder 38 within housing 37. Thus,heretofore it was necessary for a custodian to gain access to the rearof the lock unit in order to permit removal of such cylinder, asindicated in phantom line in FIG. 7, in cases where the patrons key waslost or damaged.

Mounted to slide axially within and projecting rearwardly of lockingcylinder end portion 41 is a rod 48 having an enlarged middle portionfor limiting such movement. The inner end of rod 48 is engageable withthe forward end of patron key 40, whereas the outer end of rod 48 isengageable with the offset top end 49 ofa lever 50, which is pivotallysupported on coin guide 32, as at 52. When patrons key 40 is fullyinserted to the position indicated in FIGS. 3 and 7, it forces rod 48 toits fully extended position, which in turn serves to pivot lever 50 intocontact with a fixed stop 53. Preferably, a leaf spring 54 is secured totop end 49, so as to insure that lever 40 is maintained in contact withstop 53. When lever 50 is disposed in the above described condition, acoin intercepting finger 57, which is adjustably carried thereon andextends through an aperture 58 provided in coin guide 32, is positionedso as to releasably retain a deposited coin, not shown, in apredetermined position within coin guide 32. When patron's key 40 isremoved from cylinder 39, rod 48 is freed for movement and lever 50thereby permitted to swing in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFIG. 3, in order to release the previously positioned coin and permitsame to pass either downwardly towards the coin collection box oroutwardly through return slot 21. By adjusting the position of finger 57on lever 50, the size of coin which the finger will retain and thus thesize of coin adapted to permit operation of the lock unit may beselectively controlled.

Again referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be understood that a disc 60is fixed to the forward end of barrel 38 and provided with an arm 61suitably connected to lock bolt 35, such that upon rotation of barrel 38in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, bolt 35 is movedto an extended doorlocking position, not shown. A disc 62, which is alsocarried on the forward end of barrel 38, is notched to provide ashoulder 64 adapted to cooperate with a pawl 65, which is in turnpivotally supported by pin shaft 66. A spring 68 serves to normally biaspivot pawl 65 into contact with disc 62 for engagement with shoulder 64.

In FIG. 4, barrel 38 is illustrated as being in its normal unlockedposition, wherein a high-peripheral portion of disc 62 engages with pawl65, so as to position the latter radially outwardly of shoulder 64. Whenbarrel 38 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG.4, spring 68 pivots pawl 65 inwardly, whereupon the shoulder engages thepawl and limits further rotation of barrel 38, in the absence of a coinbeing positioned within coin guide 32 by intercepting finger 57 in themanner described above. When a coin is properly positioned byintercepting finger 57, a coin feeling finger 72, formed integrally withpawl 65, is engageable with such coin through coin guide opening 74.When coin feeling finger 72 contacts a coin, it serves to hold pawl 65in a position radially outwardly of shoulder 64, so as to permitshoulder 64 to move past the pawl as barrel 38 is rotated into itslocking position, shown only in FIG. 9.

It will be apparent that, due to the above described operation of pawl65 in the lock constructions of the type disclosed by U.S. Pat. No.3,228,506, it was necessary for a patron to employ a properly sized cointo permit his use of a cabinet locker even though the lock unit had beenchanged to free status.

In that it is desirable that operation of lock unit 14 shall beprevented until door 12 is in closed position, patron lock release rod18 is provided with a cylindrical stop 78, which is receivable withinnotch provided in discs 60 and 62. A compression spring 82, which issupported by rod 18 intermediate stop 78 and rod supporting bracket 84,is employed to bias rod 18 forwardly, so as to position stop 78 withinnotch 80 in order to prevent rotation of barrel 38, and to position theforwardly projecting end of rod forwardly beyond face plate 15. Inwardpressure on the outwardly projecting forward end of rod 18, as byengagement thereof by gripping block 13 when the door 12 is moved intoits closed position, serves to move the rod inwardly against the bias ofspring 82 and carry stop 78 out of notch 80 in order to permit barrel 38to be rotated upon insertion of the patrons key. A further detaileddescription of the lock mechanism thus far described may be had byreferring to the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,506.

Lock unit 14 is improved in accordance with the present invention byproviding a control bar 90, whose position is adapted to control settingof the lock unit in either a coin operated or free status, the latternot requiring the temporary depositing of a coin for purposes ofoperation. More specifically, control bar is supported for verticallyreciprocating movement rearwardly of faceplate 15 by pin shafts 92 and66, which are received within vertically extending slot openings 94 and96 provided adjacent the upper and lower ends of the control bar,respectively. Suitable means, such as a spring washer, not shown,carried on pin shaft 92 is provided to frictionally prevent free slidingmovement of the pin shafts within the control bar slot openings in orderto retain the control bar in any desired preset position against theforce of gravity.

Control bar 90 is formed with a side opening recess 100, which isdisposed immediately above upper slot opening 94 and provided with lowerand upper operating edge portions 100a, 100b, respectively. An operatingpin 102, carried by control lock barrel lip 25, is adapted toalternatively cooperate with edge portions 100a, 10% to effect verticalreciprocation of control bar 90. Immediately above lower control rodslot opening 96, there is provided an arresting finger 104, which isadapted to selectively cooperate with coin-feeling finger 72 of pawl 65.

When, in accordance with the present invention, it is desired to havelock unit 14 function on a coin-operated status, it is merely necessaryfor a custodian to employ custodian key 29 to rotate control lock barrellip 25 into the position indicated at 25a in FIG. 5, whereafter, thecontrol lock barrel lip may be immediately returned to its phantom line,lock unit securing position, indicated at 25. It will be understood thatduring rotation of the control lock barrel lip into its full lineposition, operating pin 102 cooperates with edge portion 100:: for thepurpose of reciprocating control bar 90 into its lowermost position,shown in full line in FIG. 5. In this position, arresting finger 104 isspaced from coin feeling finger 72, and the lock unit permitted tofunction on a pay status in exactly the same manner disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 3,228,506.

Referring to FIG. 6, it will be understood that when it is desired tochange lock unit 14 to free status, it is merely necessary for acustodian to operate control key 29 so as to rotate the control lockbarrel lip into its full line position indicated at 25b, and immediatelythereafter return same to its lock unit securing position, indicated inphantom line at 25. During the thus described movement of the controllock barrel lip, operating pin 102 is first brought into engagement withoperating edge portion l00b for the purpose of raising control bar 90into its full line position, shown in FIG. 6, and thereafter cooperateswith lower operating edge portion 100a to return the control bar to anintermediate upper position, shown in phantom line. When control bar 90is disposed in either of its full or phantom line positions, indicatedin FIG. 6, arresting finger 104 is disposed in engagement withcoin-feeling finger 72. When finger 72 is so engaged, pawl 65 is forcedto assume substantially the same position radially outwardly of shoulder64 as would be the case if finger 72 were disposed in contact with acoin retained within coin guide 32 by coin-intercepting finger 57. Thus,when lock unit 14 is in a free status operating condition, pawl 65 isrendered inoperative, so as to negate the the need for the patrondepositing a properly sized coin. Further, since the patron no longerhas to employ a coin in order to effect operation of the lock when infree status, there is no need for providing a coin return arrangementincluding coin return slot 21 and bar 36.

Preferably, control bar 90 is further provided with an integrally formedflange projection 100, which is adapted to releasably secure lockcylinder 39 within housing 37. Flange projection 100 is defined by aconnecting spacer portion 112, a securing portion 1 l4 and a guide andpositioning tab portion 116. Securing portion 114 is provided with avertically extending slot opening 118, which is enlarged adjacent itslower end,

as at 120. Slot enlargement 120 is sized to permit passage of positionshown in FIG. 6. In all other positions of control bar 90, slotenlargement 120 is moved out of alignment with end portion 44, so as topermit edge portions 122, which bound the upper extent of slot opening118, to be received within annular slot recess 45. Thus, when it isdesired to remove lock cylinder 39 from housing 37, a custodian, by useof control key 29, may rotate the control lock barrel lip into its fullline position, indicated at 25b, for that period of time necessary andto remove one lock cylinder and insert a replacement. Thereafter, uponreturning the control lock barrel lip to its lock unit securingposition, operating pin I02 will serve to move control bar 90 and thussecuring portion 114 downwardly for the purpose of retaining the lockcylinder in position. Referring particularly to FIG. 3, it will beunderstood that tab portion 116 cooperates with release rod supportingbracket 84 to guide securing portion 114 during vertically reciprocatingmovement thereof, so as to insure that it will be properly aligned withannular slot recess 45 when a replacement lock cylinder is positionedwithin housing 37.

Also, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided animproved lock unit arrangement, which permits a counter 22, which isdrivingly connected by rod 124 to patron lock barrel 38, to accuratelyrecord each paid locking operational cycle of patron lock 16. Counter22, which forms no part of the present invention, is preferably of atype adapted to be stepped once during each operational cycle of patronlock barrel 38 between its normal unlocked position, shown in FIG. 8 andits locked position, shown in FIG. 9.

In accordance with the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, therearwardly facing, radially disposed surface 126 of patron lock barrel38 is provided with a forwardly sloping or inclined arcuate cam surface128, and lever 50 is modified so as to provide an integrally formedforwardly projecting finger or cam follower 130. Lever 50 and itsassociated parts are formed, such that the lever tends to pivot in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 8, under the force ofgravity so as to position finger 130 in operative sliding engagementwith barrel surface 126. Thus, when patron lock barrel 38 is rotatedinto its locking position, shown in FIG. 9, finger 130 is forced bygravity to follow arcuate cam surface 128, thereby permitting coinintercepter finger 57 to be removed from engagement with the coinpreviously positioned thereby within coin guide 32 and permit such cointo pass downwardly towards a coin collection box. Upon the release ofsuch coin, it is impossible to again rotate barrel 38, until pawl 65 isreleased by the act of depositing another coin. Thus, the arrangementpermits barrel 38 and, thus, counter 38 to be operated only once foreach paid operation of lock unit 14.

We claim:

1. An improvement in a coin-operated lock unit for use with a checkingcabinet having a door for closing said cabinet, wherein said lock unitincludes a face plate, means for securing said faceplate to saidchecking cabinet, said faceplate when secured concealing rearwardlythereof hereinafter recited elements of said lock unit, a coin guide, apatron lock, a patron lock operated rotary barrel having a locking boltconnected thereto and movable therewith between cabinet door unlockedand locked position, means normally operable for retaining said barreland bolt in one of said positions, a coin feeler operable by a coinpositioned within said coin guide to render said retaining meansinoperative, a counter, means operably connecting said counter to saidbarrel such that said counter is actuated by each rotational movement ofsaid barrel serving to move said bolt between said positions, and meansoperable for releasably retaining said coin positioned within said coinguide as aforesaid, said improvement comprising in combination:

control means mounted rearwardly of said face plate, said control meansbeing operably connected to means under the control of a custodian formovement between at least first and second positions, said means underthe control of a custodian being accessible forwardly of said faceplate, said control means when moved into said first position renderingsaid coin feeler inoperative, whereby said lock unit may function in afree status, and said control means when removed into said secondposition rendering said coin feeler operative, whereby said lock unitmay function in a coin operative status; and

cam means mounted for rotational movement with said barrel and camfollower means associated with said coin retaining means, said cam meanscooperating with said cam follower means for releasing said coin fromsaid position when said barrel is rotated to move said bolt from oneposition to the other.

2. An improvement in a coin operated lock unit for use with a checkingcabinet having a door for closing said cabinet, wherein said lock unitincludes a faceplate, means for securing. said faceplate to saidchecking cabinet, said faceplate when secured concealing rearwardlythereof hereinafter recited elements of said lock unit, a coin guide, apatron lock, a patron lock operated rotary barrel having a locking boltconnected thereto and movable therewith between cabinet door unlockedand locked positions, means normally operable for retaining said barreland bolt in one of said positions, a coin feeler operable by a coinpositioned within said coin guide to render said retaining meansinoperative the improvement comprising:

a custodian controlled lock accessible forwardly of said faceplate, saidcustodian lock including a rotary barrel having a lip carried formovement therewith, said lip when in a first position thereof securingsaid faceplate to said checking cabinet, said lip carrying an operatingpin for movement therewith; and

a control bar mounted for vertically reciprocating movement between atleast first and second positions, said bar mounting coin feeler engagingmeans for movement therewith, said engaging means being disposed inengagement with said coin feeler when said bar is moved into said firstposition thereof whereby rendering said coin feeler inoperative topermit said lock unit to function in a free status, said engaging meansbeing disposed out of engagement with said coin feeler when said bar ismoved into said second position thereof whereby to permit said lock unitto function in acoin operative status, said bar defining spacedoperating edges, said custodian lock barrel when rotated being adaptedto move said lip in opposite directions from said first position thereofinto second and third positions thereof, at least one of said second andthird positions of said lip being a faceplate releasing position, saidpin being alternately engageable with said edges when said lip is movedin said opposite direction so as to move said bar into said first andsecond positions thereof.

3. An improvement in a coin-operated lock unit according to claim 2,wherein said patron lock includes a patron key operated lock cylinderhaving ends thereof extending inwardly and outwardly of said unitthrough said faceplate, said lock cylinder being removablyinterconnected to said patron lock barrel, and said bar includes anintegrally formed flange retaining means adapted to releasably engagesaid inwardly extending end of said lock cylinder, said flange retainingmeans being disengaged from said inwardly extending end of said lockcylinder to permit removal thereof outwardly of said unit when said lipis in the other of said second or third positions thereof, and saidflange retaining means being engaged with said inwardly extending end ofsaid lock cylinder so as to prevent removal thereof as aforesaid whensaid lip is in all other positions thereof.

4. An improvement in a coin-controlled lock unit for use with a checkingcabinet having a door for closing said cabinet, wherein said lock unitincludes a coin guide, a counter unit, a patron lock operated rotarybarrel having a locking bolt connected thereto and movable therewithbetween cabinet door locking and unlocking positions, means normallyretaining said barrel and bolt in one of said positions, means operablyconnecting said counter to said barrel such that said counter isactuated by each rotational movement of said barrel serving to move saidbolt between said positions, means for retaining in a predeterminedposition within said coin guide a coin deposited thereinto, coin feelermeans operable by a coin retained in said predetermined position torender said first said retaining means inoperative, the improvementcomprismg:

cam means mounted for rotational movement with said barrel and camfollower means associated with said coinretaining means, said followermeans cooperating with said cam means for releasing said coin from saidpredetermined position when said barrel is rotated to remove said boltfrom one position to the other.

1. An improvement in a coin-operated lock unit for use with a checkingcabinet having a door for closing said cabinet, wherein said lock unitincludes a face plate, means for securing said faceplate to saidchecking cabinet, said faceplate when secured concealing rearwardlythereof hereinafter recited elements of said lock unit, a coin guide, apatron lock, a patron lock operated rotary barrel having a locking boltconnected thereto and movable therewith between cabinet door unlockedand locked position, means normally operable for retaining said barreland bolt in one of said positions, a coin feeler operable by a coinpositioned within said coin guide to render said retaining meansinoperative, a counter, means operably connecting said counter to saidbarrel such that said counter is actuated by each rotational movement ofsaid barrel serving to move said bolt between said positions, and meansoperable for releasably retaining said coin positioned within said coinguide as aforesaid, said improvement comprising in combination: controlmeans mounted rearwardly of said face plate, said control means beingoperably connected to means under the control of a custodian formovement between at least first and second positions, said means underthe control of a custodian being accessible forwardly of said faceplate, said control means when moved into said first position renderingsaid coin feeler inoperative, whereby said lock unit may function in afree status, and said control means when removed into said secondposition rEndering said coin feeler operative, whereby said lock unitmay function in a coin operative status; and cam means mounted forrotational movement with said barrel and cam follower means associatedwith said coin retaining means, said cam means cooperating with said camfollower means for releasing said coin from said position when saidbarrel is rotated to move said bolt from one position to the other. 2.An improvement in a coin operated lock unit for use with a checkingcabinet having a door for closing said cabinet, wherein said lock unitincludes a faceplate, means for securing said faceplate to said checkingcabinet, said faceplate when secured concealing rearwardly thereofhereinafter recited elements of said lock unit, a coin guide, a patronlock, a patron lock operated rotary barrel having a locking boltconnected thereto and movable therewith between cabinet door unlockedand locked positions, means normally operable for retaining said barreland bolt in one of said positions, a coin feeler operable by a coinpositioned within said coin guide to render said retaining meansinoperative the improvement comprising: a custodian controlled lockaccessible forwardly of said faceplate, said custodian lock including arotary barrel having a lip carried for movement therewith, said lip whenin a first position thereof securing said faceplate to said checkingcabinet, said lip carrying an operating pin for movement therewith; anda control bar mounted for vertically reciprocating movement between atleast first and second positions, said bar mounting coin feeler engagingmeans for movement therewith, said engaging means being disposed inengagement with said coin feeler when said bar is moved into said firstposition thereof whereby rendering said coin feeler inoperative topermit said lock unit to function in a free status, said engaging meansbeing disposed out of engagement with said coin feeler when said bar ismoved into said second position thereof whereby to permit said lock unitto function in a coin operative status, said bar defining spacedoperating edges, said custodian lock barrel when rotated being adaptedto move said lip in opposite directions from said first position thereofinto second and third positions thereof, at least one of said second andthird positions of said lip being a faceplate releasing position, saidpin being alternately engageable with said edges when said lip is movedin said opposite direction so as to move said bar into said first andsecond positions thereof.
 3. An improvement in a coin-operated lock unitaccording to claim 2, wherein said patron lock includes a patron keyoperated lock cylinder having ends thereof extending inwardly andoutwardly of said unit through said faceplate, said lock cylinder beingremovably interconnected to said patron lock barrel, and said barincludes an integrally formed flange retaining means adapted toreleasably engage said inwardly extending end of said lock cylinder,said flange retaining means being disengaged from said inwardlyextending end of said lock cylinder to permit removal thereof outwardlyof said unit when said lip is in the other of said second or thirdpositions thereof, and said flange retaining means being engaged withsaid inwardly extending end of said lock cylinder so as to preventremoval thereof as aforesaid when said lip is in all other positionsthereof.
 4. An improvement in a coin-controlled lock unit for use with achecking cabinet having a door for closing said cabinet, wherein saidlock unit includes a coin guide, a counter unit, a patron lock operatedrotary barrel having a locking bolt connected thereto and movabletherewith between cabinet door locking and unlocking positions, meansnormally retaining said barrel and bolt in one of said positions, meansoperably connecting said counter to said barrel such that said counteris actuated by each rotational movement of said barrel serving to movesaid bolt between said positions, means for retaIning in a predeterminedposition within said coin guide a coin deposited thereinto, coin feelermeans operable by a coin retained in said predetermined position torender said first said retaining means inoperative, the improvementcomprising: cam means mounted for rotational movement with said barreland cam follower means associated with said coin-retaining means, saidfollower means cooperating with said cam means for releasing said coinfrom said predetermined position when said barrel is rotated to removesaid bolt from one position to the other.